System of drafting locomotives in



Dec. 26, 1939. F. H. c. coPPus 21,303

SYSTEM OF DRAFTING LOCQMOTIVES IN ROUNDHOUSES Original Filed Sept. 14, 1925 '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 vol/@115 1 ,2

Dec. 26, 1939. F. H. c. coPPus SYSTEM OF DRAFTING LOCOMOTIVES IN HOUNDHOUSES '7' Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Sept. 14, 1925 Dec. 26, 1939. F. H. c. coPPus 21,308

SYSTEM OF DRAFTING LOCOMOTIVES IN ROUNDHOUSES Original Filed Sept. 14, 1925 7 Sheets-Shet 4 Fz g. 11. 63 2 7445.

Dec. 26, 1939. F. H.- c. COPPUS SYSTEM OF DRAFTING LOCOMOTIVES IN ROUNDHOUSES driginal Filed Sept. 14, 1925 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Ede/afar DecQZG, 1939. F. H; c. coPPus 'Re. 21,308

SYSTEM OF DRAFTING LOCOMOTIVES IN ROUNDHOUSES 1925 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Original Filed Sept. 14

Dec. 26, 1939. F. H. c. COPPUS SYSTEM OF DRAFTING LOCOMOTIVES IN ROUNDHOUSES 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Original Filed Sept. 14 1925 Cap war. I'm-FM Reissued Dec. 26,1939

SYSTEIVI OF DRAFTING LOCOMOTIVES IN ROUNDI-IOUSES Frans H. C. Coppus, Princeton, Mass.,-assignor, by mesne assignments, to Linwood M. Erskine,

Vera W. Coppus, and Frans H. Campus, as

trustees Original No. 1,669,455, dated May 15, 1928, Serial No. 56,113, September 14, 1925.

Application for reissue December 22, 1938, Serial No. 247,729

. 63 Claims.

This invention relates to drafting of locomotives in roundhouses during the firing up period, but it is capable of general use particularly certain parts of it.

The principal objects of the invention are to eliminate the usual steam pipe with which roundhouses are now provided; to substitute for it electrical mechanism which will be shut off automatically when the blowers are removed,

Fig. 3 is an end View of the same;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view on an enlarged scale showing electrical connections and the like;

Fig. 5 is a sectional View at right angles to Fig. 4 showing the sliding contacts for the electric current;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan of the track;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the blower on an W thus saving power; to provide means for draftenlarged scale; ing locomotives. in the different stalls of a round- Fig. 8 is a plan of the fork for supporting the house or any other place where locomotives may blower; be drafted such as repair sheds, railroad yards, Fig. 9 is a side view of the same;

sidings, etc., by a portable blower to be attached Fig. 10 is a large scale sectional view of a to or placed on the stack of a locomotive and swivel joint associated with said fork;

to discharge the gases of combustion into the Fig. 11 is a plan similar to Fig. 1 showing modismoke jack or uptake through the roof of the fications; roun-dhouse or into a stack or chimney, or direct- Figs. 12 and 13 are plan and side views respecly into the open. atmosphere; to provide a blower tively, showing a way of providing for the pivotal 2o driven by a motor to handle the gases of combusarrangement of the spur track in Fig. 11; Q tion and to provide means for cooling the motor Figs. 14 and 15 are end and side Views respecduring its operation; to provide means for quicktively of the modified blower used in Fig. 11; ly transferring this blower from one locomotive Fig. 16 is an enlarged sectional View of the adto another; to provide the blower with a suitable justable blower intake;

:5 support to place it on the stack of the locomotive Figs. 17 and 18 are views similar to Figs. 14 and regardless of the position of the locomotive in 15 showing another form in which this invention relation to the smoke jack or gas uptake; to pro can be carried out; vide means for connecting the blower with the Figs. 19 and 20 are sectional and end views top of the smoke jack regardless of the tilting respectively of another form;

: of the locomotive; to provide means for auto- Fig. 21 is an enlarged sectional view on the 30 matically starting and stopping the blower in line 2l-2l of Figresponse, respectively, to its movement into prox- Fig. 22 is an enlarged sectional view on the imity to the locomotive stack, and to its travel line 2222 of Fig. 19; away from the locomotive stack; to provide sup- Figs. 23 and 24 are side and end'views of a 3.3 porting means for the blower in case the locomomodification; tive should be backed out of the roundhouse Fig. 25 is an enlarged sectional view of part while the blower is on the stack of the locomoof the same, and tive; to provide means to protect the motor Fig. 26 is a side view of a modified blower. against the gases of combustion and also against Every time the boiler of a locomotive is cleaned any discharge of steam from the locomotive and inspected, which is done at least once a steam jet blower if this should be turned on while m nth, a new fire must be Started in the locomothe blower is on the stack; to provide means for tive, and steam pr ss built llp- Wh inor fitting the blower on different sizes and heights repairs are made in the locomotive fire box, while of loco-motive stacks; and to provide automatic the locomotive boiler remains under steam pres- 43' means for lubricating the bearings of the blower. sure, air is induced throu the locomotive fire 45 Reference is to be had to the accompanying box by creating a draft in the locomotive stack. drawings in which This is normally done by a steam jet blower with Fig. 1 is a plan View of a part of a roun-dhouse which each locomotve stack is equipped; and showing several stalls and illustrating the o-verusually steam for operating this steam blower is no head tracking arranged according to this intaken from a steam. main in the roundhouse. vention and its relation to the smoke jacks but This means that a steam connection must be without illustrating details; made through a flexible hose or through steam Fig. 2 is side view of one of the smoke jacks pipes with flexible couplings. This method is with a preferred embodiment of this invention very costly and cumbersome. The advantages shown connected therewith; of a blower system are fully appreciated, but 55 heretofore blower systems have always been of a stationary nature, the stack being connected by flexible or telescoping pipes to the blower intake. The blower then discharges the gases of combustion, or the air induced, through a chimney. This system has been found very costly to maintain, cumbersome in operation, and tending to a waste of power on account of the tendency of the operator to leave the blower intakesopen, thereby using needlessly much power.

With my system I provide a small motor driven blower which takes care of one locomotive at a time, but may be used in any of the several stalls of the roundhouse. A number of such blowers may be used side by side or widely scattered over the roundhouse thereby giving the utmost flexibility of operation. For this purpose I provide a monorail supporting system substantially paralleling the roundhouse wall and having spurs leading to each stall of the roundhouse, these spurs being connected to the main rail by twoway switches. Instead of using a monorail with spurs eachstall or drafting space may, of course, be provided individually with an independent rail or. track.

.In Fig. 1.I have shown part of a roundhouse whose wall I I I is paralleled by a monorail system.

, The roundhouse has a number of stalls I I2 each with a smoke jack 3 as usual. I-beams II I constitute the main rail parallel to the wall and there are a series 3 of spurs I I5 and two-way switches or pivoted track sections IIB of usual construction. These switches are each operated by two chains hanging down. Each spur runs outside the smoke jack out of the path of the gases which rise from the smoke stack when the engine is put under it. This adds to the durability of the rails as they are not in the direct path of the corrosive gases.

Each spur I I has brackets 58 which support an electric switch box 58. The wires 60 (Fig. 3) of each blowers driving motor end in contactors 6| which engage with flat conductors 53 of the switch box 58. By means of a chain 62 operating a sprocket connected with gearing 67 a geared trolley 55 supporting each blower is moved along the track, carrying the blower with it. To allow it to pass around the curve and through the twoway switch the frame of the trolley is loosely fitted on the opposite flanges of the I-beam. This play may prevent the contactors 6| from engaging properly with theconductors 63. To take this play away the I-beam is provided with a filler I I8 Withinthe operating zone so that the opposite converging wheels 8 of the trolley 55 have no side play This filler 8 has a slant I20 at the entrance point so as to facilitate the proper placing of the trolley.

' The blower 50 is carried by trunnions 52 on a fork 5| counterweighted at 51 and supported on a swivel joint 53 by a chain 54 from the trolley 55 so that the blower can be raised and lowered. Chains 56 limit the downward travel of the blower about the pivot, the blower being slightly heavier than the counterweight 57. As soon as the contactors 8| disengage from the conductors 63 the motor stops. Therefore, the blower will always be inoperation when it is within the normal operating zone, that is, anywhere below the smoke jack, the reason for which will be explained later.

By pulling straight downward on a chain 65 the blower will be raised, and by letting this chain go the blower will be lowered thus taking care of different heights of stacks. By pulling on the chain sideways the blower will describe the are of a circle, pivoting about the supporting chain 54, thereby allowing the blower to take up any position within this arc and lowering it on the smoke stack of the locomotive whether this is located right in the center of the smoke jack or on either side of it.

Through the arms of the supporting fork 5| (Fig. extends the pivot bolt 68 with a bushing 68 on which is mounted the inner race of a selfaligning bearing 10. The outer race of this bearing is located in a housing II covered by an enclosure I2. The housing II has a vertical eyebolt I3 to which is fastened the supporting chain 54 so that there is a slight oscillating motion around point I4 in the center of the fork 5|. It is necessary that this motion be about this point to enable the relative proportions in the weights of the blower and the counterweight to be maintained. This motion is sufficient to take care of any dis-alignment of the stack so that the blower will rest. snugly on the stack, in substantially centered relation thereto, by means of the flared intake at the lower end of the blower casing 50; this occurs regardless ofthe stacks position even if the locomotive is tilted materially out of its normal upright position.

The blower casing 50 (Fig. 7) is formed in two pieces, to the upper of which is bolted a spider 8|, the hub 82 of which forms the upper end cap and bearing housing of the motor. This end cap has cored slots 83 and an end shield 84 which forms with the hub- 82 a continuation of the cored slots 83. Leading to the cored slots 83 is an annular air chamber 85 formed by the motor housing 86 and motor cover 81 enclosing the entire motor. To this air chamber 85 lead one or more radial pipes 88 from the outside of the lower part of the blower casing 50 which is bolted to the upper part by four bolts 80. The air therefore, passing through the tubes 88, enters the annular air chamber 85, then passes through annular slots 83 into the passage between the housing 82 and the shield 84. The air is drawn through this passageway by the suction created by the fan 8 I. The air,

however, is also drawn through the motor itself by the action of fan 8|, assisted by a smaller fan 82 on the same vertical shaft I03; this discharges the air into the hollow hub of the fan 8| and out through holes 83, thereby cooling the inside of the hub so that very little or no heat is transmitted to the shaft by the fan blades. A throw ring 94 prevents any dirt from falling down through the holes 83 or any rain or water of condensationfrom entering similarly. We have seen that the blower is in motion when in proximity to the stack and will remain in motion until taken out of the operating zone. Therefore, if any steam should be discharged through the stack it cannot reach the motor because of the pro-visions just described.

This blower has two ball bearings ml, the oiling of which is accomplished as follows: Oil is poured into a receptacle 85 until it overflows through a hole having a plug 86 which is then secured in place. A pipe 8'! leads from the receptacle to the oil chamber I02 of the motor and this oil chamber will be filled approximately to the top of the lower ball bearing. A screw nut 98, rotating with the shaft I03, pumps the oil upward through a hole I04 through the center of the shaft, putting the oil in this hole under pressure. Above each ball bearing is an outlet I 05 from this hole and the oil flowing through the lower outlet will pass through the ball bearing and immediately into the oil reservoir, while a tionary rail the oil passing through the upper hole flows through the ball bearing into a chamber 99 then out through a pipe I00 back to receptacle 95. The flow of oil will continue as long as the motor is in operation. The pipe 97 passes through one of the air inlets 88 and therefore is kept cool, and the pipe Iflfi'passes through another pipe I96 which communicates with the air passage 83 for the same purpose. A relief over-flow Ill? is provided for the upper bearing.

With this construction, the steam pipes with which roundhouses are ordinarily equipped for the purpose of drafting the locomotives are entirely eliminated. This also eliminates the expense of installation and upkeep of these pipes and their supply from the boilers. Automatic means is provided for shutting off the power whenever it is not required. It is shut off mere- 1y by the movement of the blower away from the smoke jack and it is also turned on by the coming of the blower into position under the jack. The blower is held up also, if the locomotive is moved out when nobody is attending to the blower particularly, so that no damage is likely to be done from any inattention of that kind. The portable blower easily fitted to the stack of the locomotive even if the stack is not centrally located under the jack'or if it is tilted to one side. The blower can be carried quickly from one locomotive to another and is provided with means for protecting the motor against the heat of the gases of combustion and against steam from the steam jet blower if that is .irned on. Antomatic means is provided for lubricating-the bearings of the blower and also there is means for cooling the motor as it operates. This is a material improvement over the blower sys terns that have been installed heretofore because the blower is portable and no flexible or te1escoping pipes have to be used in connection with it that may be left open, thus wasting power.

Fig. 11 shows a. modified layout of the monorail system, in which the spur E25 is hinged at I26 so that the blower may be moved slightly to the left or right to take care of any tilting of the locomotive stack. The free end rests and slides on a horizontal bar I24. In this case the track normally moves directly under the smoke jack H3. I-beam is in the direct path of the gases of corn bust-ion which are highly corrosive. I have shown in Figs. 12 and 13 how the rail I25 can be pivoted on the stud I26. The pivot stud is mounted on a plate I23 secured to the bottom of a sta- I2'I. Overlapping plates I28 and I29 are ecured to the tops of the rails i252) and In this case the rails and. trolley may be the same as above described but the blower casing is considerably modified as shown in Figs. 1a, 15 and 16. The flared intake I 39, instead of being fixed to the blower casing as in Fig. 7, telescopes with one or more sections or collars IEii. These sections are moved up and down by two chains or ropes I32 running over quadrants I33, one of the quadrants having an arm 34 with a chain I to operate it from the floor. There-- fore, instead of moving the blower up and down, only the intake is moved up and down and no hoist is necessary. The blower is suspended by a link E36 pivotally depending from the trolley.

In the form shown in Figs. 17 and 18 the blower casing is suspended by chains 8 and a yoke 8 iulcrumed at 8 in a lug 8 of the blower casing. The chains 8 are the load chains of a This has the disadvantage that the geared trolley hoist 9, the trolley of which runs overthe spur I25 of the monorail system which is suitably supported by hangers. The jack H is provided with doors I2 which are pulled open by a chain I3 over a pulley, sufficiently to allow the blower to enter the smoke jack. After the blower has entered the smoke jack the doors are allowed to close by their own weight or by suitable springs or counter-weights, not shown, provided for the purpose. The blower has a flared or conical intake l5 which rests on the locomotive stack to locate and center the apparatus thereon, the blower being moved up and down by the operating chain I6 of the hoist. By operating the chain I! of the geared trolley the blower is movedin or out of the jack.

Figs. 19 to 22- show the blower with a screw hoist instead of a chain hoist, as previously described. The blower is suspended from the screw rod 20, .iulcrmned at 2| so that it can swing slightly out of its normal position in order to set squarely on the locomotive stack if the locomotive should be tipped to one side. Bracket 22 which is fastened to the blower outlet, has a fork 23, the arms of which are guided by the fiat sides of the housing 24 of the screw hoist so that the blower and the hoist rod 25 are prevented irom turning around the center of the rod.

The blower itself consists of a housing 3!] having an intake elbow 3| provided with a flared inlet 32. .Tothe upper part of the blower housing is bolted a fancasing 33 with a hub 34 containing a bearing 35 through which passes the shaft 3%. The bushing 35 is provided with prongs or ribs on the outside so that air passages 55! are formed between the hub 33 and the bush-- ing. The hub 3 1 is fastened to the casing 31% by means of ribs 34 and between these ribs are gaps 3t which are closed by covers and thus constitute air passages The inlet to the air passages 31 is closed by a pipe fill and the inlet to the air passages 34 is closed by a flat plate 4! and a pipe 42. This forms an air passage be tween the pipes Ml and 42 which communicates with atmosphere outside of the blower. Anair passage is also formed between the pipe 3!! and the shaft 36 communicating'with the passages 3i" and opening up to the motor casing. By the action of the fan 38 air is drawn from the outside between the pipes 40 and 42 and also through the motor and around the shaft. At the extreme end of the shaft is the fan 38 discharging the gases into the blower outlet 39.

On the other end of the housing 39 is bolted the motor frame consisting of a cap t3, shell 1 and cap @5, the latter containing the other bearing of the blower. Thus the motor is locatedout of the path of the heated gases of combustion. The lubrication of this bearing is furnished by an ordi-- nary grease cup screwed into the cover 68 and the grease pipe for the upper bearing is located inside of a sleevewhich is screwed into the hub so that there is an air passage between this pipe and the grease pipe for keeping the grease cool. A guard 45 protects the motor.

' The casing 3B is provided with two doors one on each side, which, when the blower is not in operation, hang open as indicated, when the blower is started up a suction is created inside of the blower housing, which automatically closes these doors. These doors are for the purpose of letting cold air into the blower housing if the blower should be allowed to remain on a stack not in operation, thereby, reducing the temperature so as to fit in the conical inlet.

of the gases and consequently the'lheat to which the bearing 55 is subjected. The motor is. provided with long wires for. plugging in the motor at a convenient place for each stall; I

In the form shown in Figs. 23 to 25 the casing 58 supported in the way shown in the first three figures or in any other desired way, is

adapted to be inserted in the flaring conical inlet M0 at the bottom of a flexible hose I 4] so that the hose can receive the gases drawn up through the blower. The blower casing hasa conical top The hose MI can be formed of rubber lined with asbestos or other material to stand the heat of the gases to which it is subjected. Its upper end has an outlet ring I42 which is .held up by chains I43 running over pulleys I44 and held up by a counterweight I45 preferably inthe form of a ring almost heavy enough to pull up the hose.

The parts just above described are located in the chimney Hit and no smoke jack is required although they can be located in one if desired. On the inlet I are attached three or more chains I l] running to pulleys I48 in different di rections and hanging down. so that they can be operated to move the hose around with the: blower on it, or without it, but ordinarily when the blower is on it the blower will be manipulated as in the preferred form shown. The blower can be put on the stack of a locomotive as shown in full lines in Fig. 23 and if the locomotive is drawn back it will go with it, as indicated in dotted lines in that figure. However, it is to be noted that in the dotted line position the blower 5% is missing. lhis is to show that the inlet I40 can be applied directlyto the top of the locomotive stack to direct the gases up in the chimney without a blower at certaintimes. It will be understood that the counterweight I is heavy enough so that by manipulating the inlet I40 the whole hose may be raised and lowered in the chimney. It is adapted to be applied to a locomotive smoke stack. with the blower between whenever the locomotive is approximately under the chimney and no matter how much it is tilted to one side.

In the form shown in Fig. 26, the blower 50 is provided with a weighted ring I50 at the bottom and it is otherwise constructed as shown in the first form of the invention illustrated. Its trunnions are employed to allow it to be picked up by an ordinary crane which can set it around wherever desired on a locomotive. In this case, the locomotive being placed under a steam jack as before described, the crane will move around and place the blower on the stack of the locomotive and it will be substantially centered thereon, and be prevented from becoming laterally displaced, by either the clips I5 I or the flange of ring IEEI, both of which serve to restrain the blower so that it will not be dislodged accidentally. The blowerwill beconnected with the electric supply in any desired way and will discharge the gaseous products of combustion up the smoke jack or chimney. When the operation is finished, the cranewill be employed tomove it away. This heavy ring I50 is employed to keep the blower right side up and to insure its hanging down straight from the crane and furnishes also a limit at the bottom to keep it from sliding about to any material degree on top of a locomotive smoke stack.

The specific blower mechanism and the modifled forms are not claimed herein in detail as blower,

they constitute the subject matter of two divisionalapplications.

Although I have illustrated and described several forms of the invention, I am aware of the fact that modifications can be made therein by any person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore Ido not wish to be limited in these respects but what I do claim is:

l. Ina locomotive drafting plant, the combination with a plurality of smoke jacks, of a blower adapted to be applied to and removed'from the stack of a locomotive for drafting the same, and means for movably supporting the blower above the level of the locomotive smoke stacks so that it can be moved around to positions under the different jacks to draft a number of locomotives in different positions, one at a time.

2. The combination with a locomotive round-' house, of a blower adapted to be bodily applied to and removed from the stack of a locomotive for drafting the same, and means for moving the blower around to the different stalls of the round house to draft a number of locomotives in different positions, one at a time.

3. The combination with a locomotive roundhouse having smoke jacks, of a blower adapted to be applied to and removed from the stack of a locomotive for drafting the same, means for moving the blower around to the different stalls of the roundhouse to draft a number of locomotives in different positions one at a time, and means for mounting the blower flexibly so that it will be capable of application to register with the top of the stack if the locomotive is tilted or otherwise out of position and also register with the bottom of the jack.

4. In a locomotive drafting device, the combination with a smoke jack, of a movable support, a blower depending from said support, and means for adjusting the blower to a position on the stack of a locomotive under the jack regardless of the registration of the locomotive smoke stack with the center of the jack either sideways or longitudinally.

5. In a locomotive roundhouse, the combination with a series of stalls provided with smoke jacks over the tracks of the roundhouse, of a blower movable adjacent to the smoke jacks and into position below the same to discharge the gases of combustion into the smoke jacks from the locomotive, and supporting means for the blower adapted to hold the blower up when it has been applied to a locomotive stack if the locomotive is movedout of position under the jack.

6. In a locomotive roundhouse, the combination with the stalls thereof, of a main track, a series of spurs extending inwardly from the main track in the several stalls of the roundhouse, switches connecting the spurs with the main track, and a portable blower supported by and movable along the track and also movable on said switches to the spurs.

7. In a locomotive roundhouse, the combination with the external wall thereof, a main track extending along the wall and spaced inside it, a series of spurs extending inwardly from the main track in the several stalls of the roundhouse, a series of switches connecting the spurs with the main track, means for operating the switches to connect any spur with the track, and a portable blower depending from and movable along under the track and also movable on said switches to the spurs, of a smoke jack in each stall alongside of which the severalspurs are located.

8. In a locomotive drafting plant, the combination with a main track, a series of spurs extending from the main track, and switches connecting the spurs with the main track, of a portable blower depending from and movable along under the track and also movable on said switches to the spurs, smoke jacks alongside of which the several spurs are located, and means whereby the blower can be moved universally about a center outside the smoke jack to any desired position under the jack.

9.In a locomotive roundhouse, the combination of the external wallthereof, a main track extending along the wall and spaced inside it, a series of spurs extending inwardly from the main track in the several stalls of the roundhouse, a series of switches connecting the spurs with the main track, means for operating the switches to connect any spur with the track, and a portable blower depending from and movable along under the track and also movable on said switches to the spurs, in combination with a smoke jack in each stall alongside of which the several spurs are lo cated, and means whereby the blower on the spurs can be moved universally about a center outside the smoke jack to any desired position under the jack.

10. In a locomotive drafting plant, the combi nation of a main track, a trolley movable along said track, a series of spurs connected with the track and-running radially therefrom, a series of smoke jacks alongside of which the respective spurs run, means for moving the trolley along the track and spurs, a blower depending from the trolley, and means for automatically connecting the blower with a source of power when the trolley is alongside a jack and for disconnecting the same whenever the trolley is moved out of such position.

11. In a locomotive drafting plant, the combination with a series of spur tracks arranged adjacent to a corresponding number of smoke jacks,

of a trolley adapted to run on any of said spurs,

12. In a locomotive drafting plant, the combi-- nation with a smoke jack, of a spur track located entirely at one side thereof and out of the path of the combustion gases passing up the smoke jack, a blower supported by said track and movable into a position under the smoke jack. and adapted to be adjusted to the stack of a locomotive under the jack, whereby the supporting means for the blower will be out of the path of the gases of combustion or of steam from the locomotive jet blower.

13. In a locomotive drafting plant, the combination with a smoke jack located over the track, of a blower, means located at one side of the jack for adjustably supporting the blower alongside the jack, said means being capable of allowing the blower itself to be moved directly under the jack, and means whereby the blower will be adjusted to fit on smoke stacks of diiferent sizes and kinds.

14. The combination with a smoke jack, of a track arranged adjacent thereto, a trolley on said track, means for moving the trolley along the track, means depending from the trolley and capable of turning on its own vertical axis for supporting a blower comprising a fork, a blower carried in the fork and pivotally connected therewith on a horizontal axis, and, means on the fork for counterweighting the blower, whereby the blower can be turnedabout said axes to bring it into I proper relation to the jack and to a locomotive smoke stack beneath.

15. The combination with a smoke jack, of a spur track arranged adjacent thereto, a trolley on said spur, means for moving the trolley along the spur, a fork carried by said trolley and capable of turning on a vertical center, a blower pivotally carried in the fork, means for partially counterweighting the blower, and means for moving the blower up and down about a horizontal axis between the counterweight and blower.

16. The combination with a smoke jack, of a.

blower for application to a locomotive smoke stack and adapted to direct the gases therefrom up into the jack, means for supporting the blower adjacent the level of the bottom of the jack so as to be capable of tilting about a central horizontal axis, a fork on which the blower is mounted pivoted on a second horizontal axis, movable means for supporting the fork from said second axis, a counterweight on the fork having sufficient weight to nearly counterbalance the blower, and means whereby the blower can be raised and lowered about said second axis to adjust it to the smoke stack and to thejack of a locomotive.

17. The combination with a smoke jack, of a blower adapted to direct gases up into the jack, a fork on which the blower is mounted pivoted on a horizontal axis, movable means for supporting the fork from said axis, a counterweight on the fork having sufiicient weight to nearly counterbalance the blower, and means whereby the blower can be raised and lowered about said axis to adjust it to the smoke jack and to the stack of a locomotive.

18. The combination with a smoke jack, of a blower adapted to be applied to a locomotive smoke stack to direct the gases therefrom up into the jack, and means for supporting the blower so as to be capable of tilting about a central horizontal axis of the blower, and also of being bodily raised or lowered about a horizontal axis beyond the outside of the blower and also capable of being turned about a vertical axis adjacent to the second horizontal axis.

19. The combination with a stationary smoke jack, of a blower movable horizontally relatively to the smoke jack, for application to a locomotive smokestack and adapted to direct the gases there-from up into the jack, and means for supporting the blower so asto be capable of tilting about a central horizontal axis of the blower.

20. The combination with a smoke jack and a track adjacent thereto, of a trolley thereon, a series of conductors arranged adjacent to the track, a series of contactors movable with the trolley for engaging the conductors, a blower carried by the trolley into registration with the smoke jack and means connected with said contaotors for operating the blower at all times when the contactors and conductors are in contact.

21. The combination with a track and a smoke jack adjacent thereto, of a trolley thereon, a series of exposed conductors arranged adjacent to the track, a box in which said conductors are located having partitions for separating them, a

, shaft having a series of contactors thereon for engaging the conductors, said shaft being carried connections from said contactors and conductors by which an electric circuit is completed when the contactors engage the conductors and broken I by the trolley and movable therewith, electrical the trolley, and means connected'with said contactors for operating the blower at all times when the contactors and conductors are in contact and the blower is in registration with the smoke jack.

22. The combination with a track, of a trolley thereon, a smoke jack adjacent to the track, the track comprising an I-beam having a filler over the web thereof-to prevent side play of the wheels of the trolley which are mounted on the lower flanges of the I-beam, said filler having a slant at the end to facilitate the proper placing of the trolley, a blower carried by the trolley, and means for operating the blower when it is in registration with the jack.

23. In a locomotive roundhouse, the combination with the smoke jacks, of a main track, a series of pivoted track sections connected with the m'ain'track so that the pivoted sections can be swung about in, a horizontal plane, and a portable blower supportedby and movable along the track and any of'the pivoted sections toward the several jacks.

24. The combination with a smoke jack, of a blower for application to a locomotive smoke stack and adapted to direct the gases therefrom upintothe jack, means forsupporting the blower adjacent the level of the bottom 'of the jack pivotally on a horizontal axis, said blower comprising a casing with an open mouth at the bottom slanting to fit over the top of a smoke stack, a fan at the top of the casing, a vertical central shaft in the casing supporting the fan, and a motor on the shaft Within the casing, and means for automatically connecting the motor with and disconnecting it home source of power'in accordance with the position of the blower casing with respect to the smoke jack, 1

25. The combination with a smoke jack, of a blower for application to a locomotive smoke stack and adapted to direct thegases therefrom up into the jack, a casing with an open mouth at the bottom slanting to fit over the top of a smoke stack, a fan at the top of the casing, a vertical central shaft in the casing supporting the fan, a motor on the shaft within the casing, and means for automatically connecting the motor with and disconnecting it from a source of power in accordance with the position of the blower casing with respect to the smoke jack 26. The combination with a smoke jack, of a track arranged adjacent thereto, a trolley on said track, means for moving'the trolley along the track, a vertical support pivoted to and depending from the trolley and capable of turning on its vertical axis, and a blower pivotally connected on a horizontal axis with said support, whereby the blower can be turned about said vertical axis and swung on the horizontal axis .to bring it into proper relation to the jack and tion with a locomotive stack, of a blower movable adjacent to the locomotive smoke box and into position to discharge the gases of combustion from the locomotive, and supporting means for the 28. In a locomotive drafting plant, the combine blower adapted to hold the blower up when ;it has been applied to a locomotive stack if. the locomotive is moved out of position under the blower.

29. In a locomotive draftingplant, thecombina- 2 track, means for moving the trolley along the track, a blower depending from the trolley and means for automatically connecting the blower with a source of power when the trolley is moved toa certain position on'the track, the connection remaining when the trolley is moved beyond this position for a predeterminedldistance, and means for breaking said connection whenever the trolley is moved back of said position 32. In a locomotive roundhouse, the combina I tion of a track, a trolley'movable along said track, a blower depending from the trolley, a smoke jack alongside of whichthe track runs, means for moving the trolley along the track, and means for automatically connecting the blower with'a source of power when the trolley is alongside the jack and for disconnecting same when moved out of such position.

33. In a locomotive drafting plant, the combination witha track adjacent to asmoke jack,

the trolley is of a trolley adapted to run on said track, a

blower depending from the trolley, electrical means for I operating the blower, and means whereby the electrical means will be automatically disconnected when the blower moves out of position alongside the jack.

34.- In a locomotive drafting plant, the combination with a track adjacent to a stall, of a trolley adapted to run on said track, a blower depending from the trolley, electricalmeans for operating the blower, and means whereby the electrical means will be automatically disconnected when the blower moves out of a certain position alongside the stall.

35. In a locomotive drafting plant, the combination witha stall, of a track locateda'longside the stall and out of the path of the combustion gases from the smoke stack, a blower supported by said track and movable into a position overthe smoke stack and adapted to be adjusted to the stack, whereby the supporting means of the blower will be out of the path of the gases of combustion or of steam from the locomotive jet blower, I r

36. The combination with a locomotive smoke stack, of a track arranged adjacent to the loco motive, a trolley on said track, means for moving the trolley along the track, means depending from the trolley and capable of turning on a vertical axis for supporting a blower comprising a'lever, a blower carried on the lever and pivotally connected therewith on a horizontal axis, and means on the lever for counterweighing the blower, whereby the blower can be turned about said axis to bring it into proper relation to the smoke stack.

37. The combination with a locomotive smoke stack, of a track arranged adjacent to the locomotive, a trolley on said track, means for moving the trolley along the track, a lever carried by lever on which the blower is mounted pivoted on a second horizontal axis, movable means for supporting the lever from said second axis, a counter-v weight on the lever, and means whereby the blower can be raised and lowered about the said second axis to adjust-it to the smoke stack of a locomotive.

39. The combination with a locomotive smoke stack, of a blower adapted to direct gases therefrom, a lever on which the blower is mounted p-ivoted on a horizontal axis, movable means for supporting the lever from said axis, a counterweight on the lever, and means whereby the blower can be raised and lowered about said axis to adjust it to the smoke stack of a locomotive 40. In a locomotive drafting plant, the combination of a blower adapted to be applied to a locomotive smoke stack to direct the gases therefrom, and means for supporting the blower so as to be capable of tilting about a central. horizontal axis of the blower, and also of being bodily raised or lowered about a horizontal axis beyond the outside of the blower and capable of being turned about a vertical axis adjacent to the second horizontal axis.

41. In a locomotive drafting plant, the combination of a blower for application to a locomotive smoke stack and adapted to direct the gases there from, and means for supporting the blower so as to be capable of tilting about a central horizontal axis of the blower.

42. In a locomotive drafting plant, the combination of a blower adapted to be bodily applied to and removed from the stack of a locomotive for drafting the same. and supporting means for the blower adapted to hold the blower up when it has been applied to a locomotive stack if the locomotive is moved from under the blower.

43. In a locomotive drafting plant, the combination with a locomotive smoke stack, of a blower, means for adiustably supporting the blower alongside the locomotive, said means being capabio of allowing the blower itself to be moved over the stack, and means whereby the blower will be adjusted to fit on smoke stacks of different sizes and kinds.

44. In apparatus of the class described, a blower adapted to be bodily applied to the stack of a loco-motive, for drafting the same, and means on said blower for substantially registering it with said stack.

45. In a locomotive drafting plant, the combination of a blower adapted to be bodily applied to and removed from the stack of a locomotive for drafting the same, and means for mounting the blower flexibly so it will be capable of application to register with the top of the stack if the locomotive is tilted or otherwise out of position.

46. In a locomotive drafting plant, the combination of a blower adapted to be bodily applied to and removed from the stack of a locomotive for drafting the same, and means for mounting the blower flexibly so it will be capable of application to register with the top of the stack if the locomotive is tilted or otherwise out of position,

and also register with the bottom of the jack.

47. In a locomotive drafting device, the combination with a stall, of a movable support, a blower depending from said support, and means for ad-. justingthe blower to a position on the stack of a locomotive in thestall regardless of the registration of the locomotive stack with the center of the stall. l

48. The combination with the front end of a locomotive and a track adjacent thereto, of a trolley thereon, a series of conductors arranged adjacent to the track, a seriesof contactors movable with the trolley for'eng'aging the conductors, a blower carried by the trolley, and means connected with said contacto'rs for operating the blower at all times when the contactors and conductors are in contact.

49. In apparatus of the class described, a blower adapted .to be bodily applied to the stack of a locomotive for drafting said stack, and means associated with said blower for procuring, by depositof same on the stacks upper end, the substantially centered positioning of same relative to said. stack.

50. In a locomotive drafting plant, the combination of a blower adapted to be bodily applied to and removed from the stack of a locomotive for drafting the same, means for mounting the blower flexibly so it will be capable of application to register with the top of the stack if the locomotive is tilted or otherwise out of position, and means whereby the blower will be adjusted to fit on smoke stacks of different sizes and kinds.

51. In a locomotive roundhouse, the combination of a blower adapted to be bodily applied to and removed from the stack of a locomotive for drafting the same, means for mounting the blower flexibly so it will be capable of application to register with the top of the stack if the locomotive is tilted or otherwise out of position, and also ,to register with the bottom of the jack, and means whereby the blower will be adjusted to fit on smoke stacks of different sizes and kinds.

52- In a locomotive drafting device, the combination with a stall, of a movable support, a blow er depending fromsaid support, and means for adjusting the blower to a position on the stack of a locomotive in the stall regardless of the longitudinal position. of the locomotive in the stall.

53. In a locomotive drafting plant, the combination of a blower adapted to bebodily applied to and removed from the stack of a locomotive for drafting the same and supporting means for the blower adapted to hold the blower up when it has been applied to a locomotive stack if the locomotive is moved out from under the blower.

54. In a locomotive drafting plant, the combination with a stall thereof, of a track alongside the stall, and a portable blower adapted to be bodily applied to and removed from the stack of a locomotive in the stall for drafting the same and supported by and movable along the track.

55. In a locomotive roundhouse, the combination with a smoke jack thereof, of a track alongside the smoke jack and a portable blower adapted to be bodily app-lied to and removed from the stack of a locomotive under the smoke jack for drafting the same and supported and movable along the track.

56. In a locomotive drafting plant, the combination with a stall thereof, of a track alongside the stall and a portable blower supported by and movable along the track, and means whereby the blower can be moved universally to any desired position over the stall.

'7. In a locomotive roundhouse, the combination with a smoke jack thereof, of a track alongside the smoke jack and a portable blower sup- ,ported' by and movable along thetrack, and

means whereby the blower can be moved univers ally about a center outside of the smoke jack to any desired position under the jack.

58. The combination with the front end of a locomotive and a track adjacent thereto, of a trolley thereon, means on the track to prevent- ,fan in the casing, a Vertical shaft supporting the fan, a motor on the shaftwithin the casing, and means for automatically connecting the motor with and disconnecting it from a source of power in accordance with a predetermined position of the blower with respect to the smoke stack.

60. .The combinationwith a locomotive stack, of a blower adapted to direct the gases therefrom, said blower comprising a casing with an open 21-;sos

Vmined position of the blower with respect to the smoke stack.

61. The combination with the front end of a locomotive having a smoke stack and a track adjacent theretmof a trolley thereon, means on the track to prevent side play of the wheels of the trolley, a blower carried by the trolley, means for operating the blower, and means for automatically connecting said operating means with and disconnecting it from a. source of power in accordance with a predetermined position of the blower with respect to the smoke stack.

Y 62. In a locomotive drafting plant, the combination of a blower forapplication to a locomotive smoke stack and adapted to direct the gases therefrom, and means for supporting the blower so as to be capable of tilting about a horizontal axis.

63; The combination witha locomotive smoke stack, of a blower adapted to direct the gases therefrom, said blower comprising supporting means to fit on the top of the smoke stack, a vertical motor-driven shaft, and a fan on the shaft.

FRANS H. C. COPPUS. 

